Self-locking seal.



. ATBNTBD AUG. 1:3,"19081 'L G. REESQR'.

SELF LOCKING-SEAL..

APPLICATION FAILED DEc.9.19o7.

UNITED sTATE's PATENT oEErcE. l

ISAAC CHRISTIAN REESOR, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOHALSTED L.`

RITTER, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SELF-LOCKING SEAL.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug-.'18, 190s.

Application led December 9, 1907. Serial No. 405,749.

expensive construction having means for effectually preventing itslocking device from being accidentally jarred into its locked position,and capable, when locked, of eifectually preventing an instrument frombeing introduced into it for releasing the sealing strip. l/Vith theseand other objects in view, the invention consists in the constructionand novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustratedin the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims heretoappended; it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion, size and minor details of contrsuction, within the scope ofthe claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a plan View, partly in section of a selflocking seal, constructed in accordance with this invention, the devicebeing unlocked. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, thefree end of the sealing strip being introduced into the entrance openingof the outer shell or casing in position for moving the slide inwardly.Fig. 3 is a similarview, the parts beinglocked. Fig. 4 is a transversesectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail perspectiveview, illustrating the construction of the inner support or casing. Fig.6 is a detail .perspective view of the slide.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawmg. l

1 designates a sealing strip having its inner portion doubled or bentupon itself to form an inner support or casing 2, which consists of twosides spaced apart to receive a slide 3 and the free end 4 of thesealing strip, when the seal is locked. One of the sides of the innersupport or casing is provided at its side edges with longitudinalflanges 5,v substantiailly L-shaped in cross section and extendinginwardly to embrace and support the opposite side of the inner supportor casing 2. The inwardly extending portions of the side flanges 5terminate short of the median line of the inner support or casing, andthe sides thereof are provided with centrally arranged apertures 6,disposed in alinement and adapted to receive the engaging portions ofthelocking springs 7, which are in the form of rings.

The inner support or casing is arranged within an outer shell or casing8, composed of two substantially concavo-convex sections or members, oneof which is formed integral with one of the sides of the support orcasing, being connected with the same at the mouth or entrance of theouter shell or casing by an integral portion 9. The two sections ormembers of the casing may be secured at their peripheries by anysuitable means, as will be readily understood. The slide 3, which ismovable between the sides of the inner support or casing, issubstantially U- shaped in longitudinal section, the metal being doubledto form two sides and a connecting bend or portion 10, located at theinner end of the slide and adapted to be engaged by the free end of thesealing stri when the latter is introduced into the seal? The slide isprovided in its sides with opposite apertures 11, which when the slideis moved inwardly by the free end of the sealing strip, are carried intoregister with the apertures 6 of the inner support or casing to permitthe engaging portions of the locking springs to pass through the saidapertures and also through an aperture 12 of the free end 4 of thesealing strip.

The rings are split, and the terminals or enl gaging portions 13 areheld separated or spread by the inner imperforate portions of t e sidesof the slide, when the latter is at the limit of its outward movement,as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The parts are then set forautomatic locking, and when the slide is moved inwardly, the engagingportions 13 of therings will pass through the registering apertures andwill lock the free end of the sealing strip, as clearly illustrated inFig. 3 of the drawing. When the parts are unlocked, the rings arepreferably arranged in an inclined or angular position, as illustratedin Fig. 1 of the drawing, to dispose them more or less flatwise withrelation to the inner support or casing, so that they will not beseparated or sprung to the extent they would be were they arrangedinplanes at right angles to-the plane of the support. c

In order to prevent the slide from being accidentally moved backwardlyor inwardly y through the jars incident to jumping on and off cars Vandthe like, the sides of the inner support or casing are provided at theirfront ends with inner grooves 14, formed by bending the sides outwar'dlyand adapted to be engaged by the outer ends 15 of the sides of theslide. The outer ends 15 of the sides of the slide are bent laterally orflared to engage them with the grooves of the sides of the inner sup)ort or casing, and they are thereby positive y interlocked with thelatter to retain the slide in its outermost position. flaring of theouter ends of the sides of the slide also form an enlarged mouth forguiding the free end of the sealing strip into the space between thesides Vof the slide. This will prevent the free end of the sealing stripfrom engaging the outer end of either side of the slide and moving thesaine inwardly, and there is vno danger of the device being sprung bythe sealing strip without the latter being in proper position to beengaged by the locking springs. When the rings are sprung their engagingends are overlapped so that it is impossible to withdraw the sealingstrip. Also when the parts are locked, the sealing strip closes themouth or entrance of the outer shell or casing, so that it will beimpossible to introduce a knife blade, or other instrument into the samewithout injuring the outer shell or casing and indicating the fact thatthe seal has been tampered with. Furthermore, it will be necessary topractically'destroy the seal in order to disengage the locking ringsfrom the sealing strip.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as newand desireto secure by Letters Patent, isz- 1. In a self locking seal, thecombination of an outer shell or casing, a sealing strip connectedat oneend to' the same, an automatic locking device located Within the outershell `or casing and having a portion for engaging i the free end of thesealing strip, and a movable member arrangedv to support the engagingportion of the ocling device out of its engaging position'to set thesaid locking device, said movable member including yieldable means forengaging the support to hold it against accidental movement and actuatedby the free end of the sealing strip to release the engaging portion ofthe device.

2. In a self locking seal, the combination with a shell or casing, and asealing strip connected at one end to the same, of an automaticlockingdevice mounted within the shell or casing and having an engagingortion for locking the free end of the sea ing strip, and a slidemovable independently of the locking device and arranged to support Thethe engaging portion thereof out of its engaging position to set theseal, said slide havinga yieldable portion forholding it againstaccidental movement and actuated by the free end of the sealing strip torelease the locking device.

3. In a self locking seal, the combination i with a su ort or casinghaving an aperture, and a sea ing strip, of an automatic locking deviceprovided with an engaging ortion located opposite the said aperture, aslfide arranged within the su ort or casing and having a portion forholding the locking device out of engagement, said slide being alsoprovided with a yieldable projection for holding it against accidentalmovement and actuated by the sealing strip to permit the locking deviceto project into the opening for engaging the sealing strip. A

4. In a self locking seal, the combination of an inner support or casinghaving an aperture, a sealing strip, a locking spring provided with anengagingportionlocated opposite the said aperture, and a slide mountedwithin the inner support or casing and having a portion for holding thespring out of engagement, said slide being also provided withv ayieldable projecting portion for holding it against accidental movementand movable independently of the locking spring and actuated by thesealing strip to release the said spring to cause the same to engage thesealing strip.

5. In a self locking seal, the combination with a sealing strip, of asupport or casing having spaced sides provided-with apertures, a lockingspring having engaging portions located opposite the said apertures, anda slide operating within the support or casing for holding the engagingportions of the locking spring in spaced relation and expansible toengage thev support or casing and arranged to be moved out of suchposition by the sealing strip.

6. In a self locking seal, the combination with a sealing strip, of asupport or casing ,having spaced sides provided with apertures,

a locking spring having engaging portions j located o posite the saidapertures, and a resilient slide operating within the support or casingfor holding the engaging portions of the locking spring in spacedrelation and arranged to be moved out of such position byof a support orcasing having spaced sidesl provided with op osite grooves, said supportor casing being a so provided with an aperture, a locking spring havingan engaging portion located opposite the aperture, a slide operating inthe support or casing for holding the spring out of engagement, saidslide being provided with projecting portions for engaging the groovesof the support or casing.

9. In a self locking seal, the combination of a support or casing havingspaced sides provided with op osite grooves, said support or casingbeing a so provided with an aperture, a locking spring having an.engaging portion located opposite the aperture, a slide operating inthe support or casing for holding the spring out of engagement, saidslide being composed of spaced sides having laterally bent portions forengaging the said grooves.

10. In a self locking seal, the combination with a sealing strip, of asupport or casing having spacedsides and provided with an aperture, alocking device having an engaging portion located opposite the apertureand adapted to extend across the space between the sides of the casing,and a slide operable in the support or casing and actuated by thesealing strip and composed of spaced sides and having an imperforateportion for holding the locking device out of engagement and providedwith an aperture adapted to register with that of the support or casing.

11. In a self locking seal, the combination of an outer shell or casingcomposed of sections, asealing strip having its inner face doubled toform an inner support or casing and formed integral with one of thesections thereof, the doubled portion of the sealing strip beingprovided With opposite apertures, a pair of locking rings havingengaging portions located opposite the apertures, and a slide mountedWithin the doubled portion of the sealing strip and actuated by the freeend of the latter and having an imperforate portionto space the engagingportions of the locking rmgs and provided with an o ening to receive theengaging portions o the springs. i

12. In a self locking seal, the combination of a casing having anentrance opening, a

sealing strip connected at one end to the casing, an automatic lockingdevice located within the casing and having a portion for engaging thefree end of the sealing strip, a slide arranged to hold the engagingportion of the spring away from its engaging position, and a supportreceiving the slide and provided at the entrance opening of the casingwith means for holding the slide against accidental movement.

13. In a self locking seal, the combination of a casing, a sealing stripdoubled within the casing to form a support, a locking device forengaging the free endof the sealing strip, and a slide for holding thelocking device away from its engaging position, said slide consisting ofa strip of metal doubledv to form two sides for engaging the doubledportion of the sealing strip, whereby the slide is held againstaccidental movement.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaffixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC CHRISTIAN REESOR.

Witnesses:

R. E. WINBOURN, HAMLET J. BARRY.

